Improvement in devices for opening oysters



D. M. CLEARY.

Devices for Opening Oysters.

Patented Oct. 28, 1873.

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[Izz/e/ztar UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DOUGLAS M. OLEARY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO JOSEPH F. BBOADBENT, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN DEVICE? FOR OPENING OYSTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 144,063, dated October 28, 1873; application filed September 2, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DOUGLAS M. OLEARY, of Baltimore city, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Opening Oysters, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to devices for opening oysters; and it consists of a weighted knifehead, provided with a stem passing through the upper end of the guide-box,'and having a spring, one end of which bears upon the upper end of the guidebox and against a shoulder at the upper end of the knife stem, whereby the spring and knife stem are arranged above the acting point of the knife for two purposes viz., that the spring shall not be spattered with the mud and dirt in opening the oysters, and that the stem shall serve as the connecting-rod, whereby to operate the knife by steam or other power above the knife, ,and without the use of the treadle; also, in the arrangement of the treadle connecting rod or wire within grooves in the sides of a weighted knife-head, and between the latter and the inner sides of the knife-guide, whereby the weighted knife-head is operated by an embracing strap or wire attachment, making it durable and convenient, and giving to the knife a solidity of action, which is very desirable with foot-power to clip the oyster with a clean cut.

The accompanying drawings represent a front elevation and vertical section of a device embracing my invention.

The device can be mounted upon any shucking box or table for family use. A metallic box, a, is fitted to receive a reciprocating knife, b, seated in the lower end of a weighted head, 0, from the upper end of which a stem, 61, extends, to receive a spiral or other spring, 6, to effect the rebound of the knife I) when operated by a treadle; or the stem at will answer to apply steam or other power, in which case the spring e is not used. The stem (1 passes through a guide-opening, f, in the top of the box a, and the latter forms a guide for the knife-head c, and to limit its upward movement. A fixed knife, 9, is secured across the box a at its lower end, and arranged for action with the movable knife I), so that their cutting-edges h i shall pass each other in contact, the fixed one, g, being beveled outward,

and the movable one, I), inward, to produce a flush shear-cut as the edges pass, the efit'ect of which is to give a clean cut to the shelL An opening, 7', is made in the face of the box, a sufficient distance above the fixed cutter g for the entrance of the oyster to receive the clipping action of the knives; and the space It between the back of the box and the fixed cutter should-be sufficient to allow the nose of large-sized oysters to be entered enough to clip off the nose to expose an opening therein. The fixed knife 9 serves as a support for the oyster against the clipping action, and the lower end of the box is open at lto let the clippings pass out. The spiral spring 6 is arranged between the top of the box and a shoulder, m, on the stem (1, so as to constantly exert an upward force upon the knife-head, which latter has sufficient weight to give to the cutter a solidity of action. The knife is laid in a recess in the head, and secured by a screw, so that it may be removed for resharpenin g or replaced by a new one. The treadle is attached to the knife-head c, or in any suitable and convenient manner that will answer the purpose.

I propose, however, to make the treadle-connection by passing its connecting-rodp through the knife-head, with its arms in grooves in the narrow sides of the head, and uniting the ends to the treadle-rod p, by which the action of the knife-head is not interfered with, and the connection thereby made durable.

When steam or other power is applied, the knifestem d may be operated by a crank or eccentric movement in a way well understood.

I claim 1. The weighted knife-head 0, provided with the upward-projecting stem d and spring 6, arranged between the top of the box a and the shoulder m, as described and shown.

2. The treadle connecting-wire 12, arranged as described, in combination with the weighted knife-head c, as described, and for the purpose set forth and shown.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of August, A. D. 1873.

DOUGLAS M. GLEARY.

Witnesses:

A. E. H. J oHNsoN, J. W. HAMILTON JOHN$0N. 

